Apparatus for treating tobacco



Jun 21, 1938. R. D. .TOUTON APPARATUS FOR TBEATING TOBACCO OriginalFiled Feb. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @www June 21, 193s. R, D, TOUTCN2,121,370

APPARATUS FOR TREATING TOBACCO Original Filed Feb 15, 1953 2SheecS-Sheef. 2

l mi@ 7770 fyS.

`Patented WJune 21, 1938 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR TREATING TOBACCORush D. Tonton, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor, by

`mesne assignments, to Wurton Machine Company, Philadelphia,Pennsylvania Pa., a corporation of Original application January 6, 1931,Serial No. 506,886, which in turn is a division of Serial No. 428,022,February 13, 1930.

Divided and this application October l2, 1933, Serial No.

19 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for treating tobacco and moreparticularly for conditioning tobacco in connection with the manufactureof cigars, cigarettes, etc.

As is well known tobacco is harvested, formed into hands or bunches, airdried and baled for convenience in shipment and storage. The baledtobacco as received by manufacturers, for example, of cigars, is in adry and brittle condition, in which it cannot be fabricated. The drytobacco has been heretofore generally conditioned for fabrication bydipping it into water, permitting the water to be absorbed by thetobacco and then fabricating the tobacco while in a moist state, underatmospheric conditions such that the major part of the moisture derivedfrom the con- {ditioning is retained.

In the conditioning of tobacco, it is desirable that the tobacco begiven the optimum moisture content, since its workability and subsequentavor depends largely upon avoidance of a deficiency or excess ofmoisture. However, tobacco isknown to be of hygroscopic nature, thoughdierent types will vary in hygroscopicity, hence it is necessary foroptimum `results to carefully control the conditioning of tobacco andthe atmospheric conditions under which it is fabricated.

The methods heretofore used for conditioning tobacco, and especially themethod generally used and involving dipping of the tobacco in water, aresubstantially unsatisfactory, since they do not operate to provide thetobacco with the optimum moisture content, are diicult to control, anddeleteriously affect the tobacco in connection with its flavor, color,etc.

Now,it is the object of this invention to provide an apparatus by whichtobacco may be conditioned with accuracy and assurance so that lowerthan that obtaining in the Work room where the tobacco is fabricated.Further, in accordance with my invention motion is imparted' to thetobacco in its conditioning. Desirably the tobacco is conditioned in airsubstantially satu- (cl. .Tsi-55) rated with moisture at the temperatureobtaining and is fabricated in air containing moisture substantiallybelow the saturation point at the temperature obtaining, which is higherthan that of the conditioning atmosphere.

In accordance with this invention motion is desirably imparted to thetobacco and humid air is circulated about the tobacco. The tobacco maybe continuously or intermittently moved and subjected to streams ofhumid air during the conditioning period. When, as is desirable, thetobacco is in the form of hands during the conditioning the hands areopened up either manually, or as a result of the movement imparted tothe tobacco, or by air circulation, or currents, or as a result of thecombined eifect of movement and air circulation or currents.

In carrying the method embodying this invention into practice there isdesirably maintained a differential between the temperature of theconditioning room and that of the work room of within about the range0.5 F.25 F. In the conditioning room the air will desirably containmoisture within about the range 90%-100% relative humidity and thetemperature will desirably be within about the range 40 F.80 F. The

desired relative humidity in the conditioning room will be maintainedthrough the admission theretov of suitably conditioned humid air. TheWork room will desirably be maintained at a temperature within about therange lit-85 F., depending upon the temperature obtaining in theconditioning room, and the air will desirably carry moisture withinabout 'the range 50%- relative humidity. s

As illustrative of the practical adaptation of the method embodying thisinvention, for example, tobacco in hands ismoved continuously orintermittently, the hands being opened up, in a closed room, the air inwhich is maintained at a temperature of about `65" F. and containsmoisture to about its saturation point at the temperavture obtaining.The moisture content of the room is maintained by introducing suitablyconditioned air; i. e. air at suitable temperature and relativehumidity, the air being introduced, as by a blower, so as to causecirculation about the tobacco, or the air may be introduced in streamsadjacent the tobacco and through which the tobacco passes in `itsmovement. The air introduced will maintain the air in the conditioningroom in motion as will the movement of the tobacco. The conditions ofmoisture and temperature in the conditioning room may be maintained byproviding, in addition to the introducwater over a wall, or walls, oitheroom, which may be of porous material, and byproviding a heatingmeans,as a steam radiator,.if necessary. The conditioning of the tobacco underthe conditions outlined above, depending upon the type y ot tobaccotreated, will require from about 4 hours to about 48 hours, though itwill be appreciated that under variation of the conditions,

which it will be understood we contemplate as dition under theconditions outlined above, that is, has absorbed 'the requisite amountof moisture, it is fabricated in a work room in which the air is Aat atemperature of about 7 0" F. and, has a moisture content of about 70%relative humidity, at the temperature obtaining.

1 embodiment of the apparatus embodying my in- 'I'he practicaladaptation of the method embodying'my invention will appear in greaterdetail from the following description, with reference to theaccompanying drawings, of a preferred vention.

In the drawings: e Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus forconditioning tobacco embodying my invention';

Figure 2-is a side elevation showing details of construction of theapparatus;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the subject `oi? Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing tobaccocarrying means;

Figures 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views showing means for automaticallyterminating the conditioning treatment.

In the' drawings, Figure 1, A indicates a closed room provided with adoor B, adjacent to which is positioned air conditioning apparatus as ahumidifier or dehumidiiler C, and within which is positioned apparatus Dembodying my invention.

In the severalilgures e, e indicateA a pair of suitably mounted shafts,spaced ata distance from each other and each carrying a pair ofsprockets f overpwhich pass chains g, from which lugs h extend laterallyat intervals and to which in turn are connected strips i, as shown inFigure 4. The chains a and connected stripsiiorm an endless carrier orconveyor which is driven by means of a motor :i connected tothe shaft ethrough a reduction gearing k.- 'I'he upper reach of the conveyor isdepressed toward the lower reach adjacent to the shaft e by passage ofthe chains under pulleys l carried by a suitably mounted idle shaft,while beyond the pulleys l the upper reach is raised away from the lowerreach and supported by suitably supported idle pulleys m, m'.

The stripsi are each provided at intervals with resilient means forholding and supporting hands of tobacco and which comprise lengths oi.'helical wire springs o secured at their ends to the sides of the stripbeneath supports p which comprise circular members supported from legs,formed of wire, or embodied in a casting, secured to the side of thestrip beyond the ends of the springs '0.

Adjacent to one side of the conveyor formed by the chains g and strips iis positioned' an air box or'manifold q connected to the conditioningapparatus C, which may be of any eilicient type, though it is preferredthat it be oi the type in A .2,191,37o' tion of suitably' conditionedhumid air, a ilowof whichf the fan forces rather than draws the air, bymeans of a .conduit r iltted vwith'a butterily valve s. The'air box isalso connected 'by conduits t with air distributors 'u oi a length and4width desirably, though not necessarily, about equal to the lengthandwidth or the conveyor and positioned respectively above and below theupper and lower reaches 4of the conveyorv and bebeing provided11i-.theirl lower and upper sides respectively andthe distributorpositioned between the reaches being provided with outlets v in bothsides, all as shown in Figure 3.

A pipe or conduit w is led from the'air box q and extended transverselyof the conveyor adjacent toits line of passage' over sprockets f, thepipe being'provided with nozzles directed toward and in line with theline of Atravel of the tobacco holding and supporting means on theconveyor, as illustrated .in Figures 1 and 3.

It will be understood that the purpose of the conditioningapparatus isto supply'suitably conditioned air at the temperature desired and hencethat the apparatus may supply or extract moisture to or from airsupplied to it. Likewise, under certain conditions the available vairsupply may be required to be cooled, while under other conditions it maybe required to be heated to obtain the desired temperature.

'I'l1e'apparatus described may, it desired, be provided with means forvarying the relative humidity of the air supplied tothe tobacco, or theamount of humid air, when the tobacco has been fully conditioned. Asillustrative, for example, the butterfly valve s in the conduit rleading from the humidier to the air box is provided with an arm y towhich is connected a wire z passed over a pairof pulleys 2 and'connectedto a frame 3 by which, for example, the smaller guide rolls m arecarried beneath the upper reaches 'of chains y. The weight of the frame3 andv rolls g is counterbalanced by a weight attached to arm y, so thatnormally the arm is positioned with the butterfiy valve open to thedesired extent. As the tobacco takes up moisture, the weight tending tooperate arm y will increase and the counterweight is so regulated thatwhen the requisite moisture has been absorbed by the tobacco; theadditional weight thereofwlll cause frame 3 to fall against the actionof the counterweight and shut oil' the butterfly valve, thus shuttingoft the supply of moisture to the tobacco and suspending theconditioning. Alternatively, a valve 5 provided in the water supply pipe6 to the'humidier is provided with an arm l connected to a pair ofsollenoids 8 and 9 connected to a source of power, as a battery I0 andrespectively toterminals Il and I2 of a two way switch, the movableelement I3 of which -is connected to the source of power and whichsupports 'a container I4 adapted to hold tobacco I6. The element i3 may,for example, be a lever fulcrumed at apoint i5 and balanced so that itwill Contact with the contact i2 and cause the solenoid 9 to beenergized when the tobacco in container I4 is unconditioned and so thatunder the increased weight of moisture absorbed by the4 tobacco when itis conditioned, it will contact with'contact il and cause solenoid I tobe energized.4 'I'he solenoid 9, when energized, positionswalve 5 topermit the passage of shut 'oi when the tobacco is fully conditioned,

since the condition of the sample in container I4 is' typical of that ofthe tobacco on the carrier.

The carrying-.out of the method embodying this invention will, it isbelieved, be understood in connection with the description oftheoperation of the apparatus above described.

A The froom' A, containing the apparatusabove described, as has- `beenindicated, is maintained -at a'temperature within about the range 40 F.-

80" F., and preferably at about 65 F., it being 'contemplated that thetobacco contained in the p room A will be fabricated in a work room, thetemperature 6i. which is from 0.5 F. to about F., higher than that inthe room A. Desirably the temperature in the work roomyis main' tainedabout 5 F. above that maintaining in the room A. Hence, if thetemperature in the room A is 65' F., the temperature in the work roomshould be about 70 F. The ,relative humidity 'of the air in Vroom A,containing the conditioning apparatus is desirablywithin about the range90%100% and the relative humidity is maintained, `desirably at aboutsaturation point, through the continuous introduction of humid air tocompensate ior the loss of moisture d ue to theabsorption of moisturefrom the air by the tobacco under treatment, radiation losses,

etc. The air in the work room will have a higher vtemperature andarelative humidity substantially below the saturation point, say forexample, about 70% relative humidity.

Assuming now that the conditions of temperature and relative humidity ofthe air in the room A is as described above, say relatively saturatedwith moisture at a. temperature of 65 F. and that hands of dry tobaccol1 have been applied to the carrier or conveyor, as illustrated inFigure 4, from an inspection of which it will be Cil Cil

noted that the butts of the leaves are engaged; by the 4springs o, whilethe leaves are supported by the supporting means p, the carrier is setin motion by starting motor j, which acts to drive the conveyor slowlyin the direction of the arrows, Figure 2. As the conveyor passes overthe sprockets f, it will be noted that humid air is projected into the`hands from the pipe u, acting to open the hands or spread the leaves, atthe same time passage of the conveyor about sprockets f and down underthe roll l causes the hands to be opened up as though .they were gentlyshaken. In the passage of the tobacco around the roll f, the tobaccohands are subjected to a stream ofconditioned air, issuing from thenozzles :n extending from the pipe w, and directed to strike the handsof tobacco laterally on one side l of the hands. In the continued travelof the conveyor, the leaves or the hands of tobacco on the upper reachof the conveyor are subjected to humid air projected against or intothemthrough the outlets v from the upper air distributor `u, while at thesame time humid air is projected against the butts of the leaves fromthe outlets on the upper side of the central distributor in. As theconveyor passes around the pulleys f', the leaves are again treated, asthough they were gently shaken and in the travel of the conveyor theleaves are again subjected to humid air issuing from the -outlets 'u ofthe lower air distributor u, whilethe butts are again subjected to humidair issuing from the outlets in the lower side of the central airdistributor.

The/ travel of the conveyorthus :carries the tobacco througlijstreams ofhumid air directed against ih e leaves'and butts and,at the same -time,gives the handsy of tobacco a motion like gentle shaking, which'operatesto spread the leaves forming the'hands. 'I'he hands, the butts of whichVare secured -by means oi? the resilient,

helical springs, are not injured and the helical springs adaptthemselves tothe holding of hands of `diiil'erent sizes, while thesupporting means serve to `,support theseparated leaves, holding thehandswithout injury4 to the leaves, which in theinitial; stage of theconditioning treatment are in a dry and brittle` state. -During thetreatment of the tobaccol the humid air, as will be understood, 'issupplied to ,the distributors through the conduit r, air box q andconduit t, while thepipe w also receives humid air from the air box. Theair conditioner, which is desirably ofthe type having a fan for forcinghumid air into and through the apparatus rather than for drawing ittherethrough, is adjusted to' maintain the desired relative humidity anddew-point, of the air directed against the tobacco and within the roomA. -The intake of the conditioner is desirably from the room A, asindicated at I8, Figure l, and under the conditions above given asdesirable, the conditioner is adjusted to eifect complete change of theairinthe room A about three times per minute, though under varyingconditions complete change of air in room A may be desirably at the rateof oneto four times or more per minute.

It will be understood that the tobacco in motion inthe air in room A andsubjected to the streams of air directed at it from lthe airdistributors absorbs moisture.V Under the limitations of conditions oftemperature and hence of quantitative moisture content of the air, thetobacco will gradually absorb 'the requisite moisture within a period offrom about 4 to about 48 hours, depending upon thetype andhygroscopicity of the tobacco under treatment.v When the tobacco hasacquired the desired moisture content, or, in other wordshas beenproperly conditioned, it is removed from the'4 conveyor, prepared forfabrication as by the removal of the stems, etc'. and then fabricatedunder the conditions indicated, that is, in air at a temperaturedesirably about 5 Ffvhigher thanthat obtaining in the conditioning room.

It will be understood that air may be forced into the conditioning roomin such a manner as to the tobacco when the tobacco has become iullyconditioned. Means embodying such detail of `my invention areillustrated by and have been described with reference to Figures 5 and6, from an inspection of which it will be notedthat the cutting off ofthe supply of humid air to the air box q and `hence to the conditioningroom A is effected through the medium of a butterfly valve s, whichcontrols conduit 1', the valve being normally open to' permit thepassage of a desired amount of humid air and being closed to cut downthe air supply through the action of the increased weight of themoisture absorbed by the tobacco when fully conditioned upon the rolls acarried by the frame l, as shown in Figure 6. Alternatively, the supplyof humid air may be shut oil' through control of the water supply to theconditioner, as shown in Figure 5, in which a valve on the water supplyline is adapted to be shut on' through the increased weight of a sampleof tobacco placed in the conditioning room acting to throw the two wayswitch to energize a solenoid operably connected with the water valvio.l

'I'he apparatus in accordance with this invention will be found to behighly advantageous in connection with the conditioning of tobacco,since complete control of the conditions under which conditioning iscarried out is enabled. and at the same time, due to motion, continuousor intermittent, imparted to the tobacco during conditioning theconditioning is effected with uniformity.

when conditioning of the tobacco is eirecd as above outlined, thetobacco will be found to be in an optimum condition for fabrication andmay be fabricated without material loss of moisture, since the tobaccoduring the time required for fabrication is generally cooler than theair in which it is fabricated so that rapid evaporation does not takeplace, with the result that the fabricated tobacco will be found to haveretained to a maximum degree its natural color, flavor and elasticity.

It will be understood that the method embodying my invention involvesfrom the broad stand- .point the treatment of tobacco for itsconditioning under regulated conditions of temperature and relativehumidity, which bear a relationship to the conditions of temperatureand, more particularly, of temperature and secondarily of relativehumidity under which they conditioned tobacco is fabricated. Generally,the tobacco will be conditioned in air the wet bulb .temperature ofwhich is lower than that of the air in which the tobacco is fabricated,and under various conditions within the differential range specified,the dew-point in the conditioning room will be below that in thefabricating room. More particularly, in accordance with the method thetobacco will `be conditioned in an atmosphere having high relativehumidity, or saturated .with moisture at the temperature obtaining,which air will be at a temperature within about the range 0.5'I lik-25F. lower than the air in which the tobacco is fabricated. The methodaccording to my invention involves .the relative conditions aboveoutlined and, at the same time, the imparting of movement to thetobacco, which may be .continuous or intermittent, during theconditioning, which may be eifected under the conditions above outlined,or otherwise.

It will be understood that in accordance with my invention if thetobacco is not fabricated immediately ,on completion of itsconditioning, it will be maintained in storage under conditions asoutlined herein for its conditioning until transferred for fabrication.A

The various novel features of the apparatus` embodying this inventionwill appear from the claims, from which it will appear that variousmodiilcations may be made from the particular -apparatus described byway'of illustration without departing from the invention. I have notherein claimed the method embodylpg my invention as such method isclaimed in lman, Serial No. 506,886, i'iled January 6, 1931, as

a division of a lioint application with Wurman, Serial No. 428,022,filed February 13, 1930, both of whichljoint applications containedclaims for the sole inventions of the applicants. These Jointapplications were subsequently converted to sole,

applications of Wurman and the claims defining the sole inventions ofToutou were cancelled from said applications without prejudice.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: f v 1.Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco which includes means forflxedly supporting hands of tobacco by their butts only, means forsupplying humid air to the tobacco and means for periodically invertingthe hands of tobacco.

2. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco which includes aconditioning chamber and an endless carrier entirely within saidchamber, means for imparting movement to the carrier, means on thecarrier for securing hands of tobacco thereto and means for diverting areach of the carrier out of its normal plane in its movement in onedirection whereby a swingingmotion will be given to the tobacco leavesforming the hands.

3. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco lwhich includes an endlesscarrier, means for imparting movement to the carrier, means on thecarrier for flxedly securing hands of tobacco thereto by their buttsonly with the leaves normally extending at an angle to said endlesscarrler, means for diverting the hands from the normal direction ofextension, and air distributors positioned respectively between thereaches of the carrier and adjacent to one of the reaches, saiddistributors being provided with means for directing Jets of air intothe paths oi' travel of hands of tobacco on the carrier at the place ofdiversion of the hands.

4. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco which includes a movingcarrier for tobacco, means for projecting liets of humid air into thepath of movement of tobacco on the carrier, and means operable by apredetermined weight of moisture absorbed bythe tobacco for varying theamount of moisture supplied to the tobacco throughthe medium of saidjets of humid air when the tobacco has absorbed the desired amount ofmoisture.

5. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco,

which includes a support for tobacco, means'for supplying moisture tothe tobacco through the medium of humid air and means for automati- V*cally varying the amount of moisture supplied -to the tobacco operableby a predetermined weight of moisture absorbed by the tobacco.

6. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco which includes means forflxedly supporting hands of tobacco by their butts only with the leavesnormally extending at an angle to said Vmeans, endless carrier means forperiodically the leaves normally extending at an angle to the carrier,means for diverting the hands ofv tobacco from their normal direction ofextension in the movement of the carrier and means located in .closeproximity to the path of travel of the hands secured butt ends, andmeans for introducing humid air into the chamber.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a conditioning chamber, a pairof endless chains moving in the chamber, transverse bars carried by thechains, means carried by the bars for engaging and holding the butt endsof hands of tobacco for supporting them in suspended position, means forimparting movements to the chains for causing swinging movements to beimparted to the suspended hands of leaves, and means for causing humidair to flow through the chamber and into contact with the swingingsuspended leaves.

10. Apparatus for conditioning tobacco which includes means for movingtobacco in hands through a conditioned atmosphere, means for effectinginversion of the hands and means for spreading the leaves of the handsas the hands are inverted.

11. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco which includes means forilxedly supporting hands of tobacco by their butts only with the leavesnormally extending at an angle to said means, conveyor means forperiodically diverting said leaves from their normal direction ofextension and means for periodically projecting forceful jets ofl airinto the hands during the period of diversion from the normal directionof extension, said last mentioned means being positioned in closeproximity to the hands so thatthe jets of air strike the hands withsuicient force to eifect separation of the tobacco leaves in the hands.

12. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco, which includes means forsupporting a hand of tobacco by its butt and means for projecting aforceful jet of conditioned gas at the tobacco, the hand of tobaccobeing positioned relative to the s said means for projecting a forcefuljet of conditioned gas so that substantially the full force ofthe jetwill be received by the hand when it 55 is directly in line with saidmeans for projecting said jet. i f

18. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco,

which includes a carrier, means for moving the carrier, means forsecuring a hand of tobacco to the carrier by its butt and means forprojecting a forceful jet of conditioned gas into the path of Vmovementof the hand of tobacco on the carrier, the said means for projecting aforceful jet of 'conditioned gas being so positioned with respect to thecarrier that the hand will receive substantially the full force of thejet when the hand, in the movement of thecarrier, is directly in lineAwith said means for projecting said jet.

14. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco in accordance with claim13, characterized by the fact that the carrier travels in a circuitouspath.

1,5. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco in accordance with claim13, characterized by the fact that the means for projecting a forcefuljet ofconditioned gas into the path of movement of the hand of tobaccoon the 'carrier is so positioned that the jet will strike the hand oftobacco laterally againsta side thereof.

16. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco in accordance with claim13, characterized by the fact that the means for projecting a forcefuljet of conditioned gas into the path of movement of the hand of tobaccoon the carrier is so positioned that the jet will strike the hand oftobacco at the tips of the leaves.

17. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco in accordance with claim13, characterized by the fact that the means for projecting a forcefuljet of conditioned gas into the path of movement of the hand of tobaccoon the carrier is so positioned that the jet will strike the hand oftobacco at its butt end.

18. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco in accordance with claim13, characterized by the fact that the means for projecting a forcefuljet of conditioned gas into the path of movement of the hand of tobaccoon the carrier is so positioned that the jet will strike the hand oftobacco against a side thereof progressively along its length.

19. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco, which includes a carrier,means for moving the carrier, means for supporting hands of tobacco onthe carrier by their butts only, means for diverting the hands oftobacco from their normal direction of extension and means adapted toproject forceful jets of conditioned air into the path of movement ofthe carrier, said means being positioned relative to the carrier so thatthe hands of tobacco on the carrier will receive the full force of thejets when they are directly in line with the means for projecting thejets.

RUSH D. TOUTON.

